The Hill News

This week, I joined with 26 of my Senate colleagues in urging President Obama to shift our policy in Afghanistan and to begin an “accelerated” transition to Afghan security forces. While the President has said he would begin to reduce some U.S. troops in July, I believe he should use the July date as an opportunity to begin a “sizable and sustained” drawdown of troops that will lead toward the removal of all regular combat troops from the country.

Our objectives in Afghanistan have largely been met. We have removed the Taliban government that sheltered al-Qaida, we have tracked down and killed Osama bin Laden, we have disrupted the terrorist networks allied with al-Qaida, and we have hunted down those who planned the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The costs of prolonging the war far outweigh the benefits. It’s time to shift course in Afghanistan and speed up the withdrawal process and save American lives.

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